CHAPTER IX.

THEbeing
finished speaking, and fixed his looks upon me in expectation of
a reply. But I was bewildered, perplexed, and unable to arrange
my ideas sufficiently to understand the full extent of his
proposition. He continued--

The latter part of his tale had kindled anew in me the anger that
had died away while he narrated his peaceful life among the
cottagers, and, as he said this, I
could no longer suppress the rage that burned within me.

"I do refuse it," I replied; "and no torture shall ever extort a
consent from me. You may render me the most miserable of men, but
you shall never make me base in my own eyes. Shall I create
another like yourself, whose joint wickedness might desolate the
world. Begone! I have answered you; you may torture me, but I
will never consent."